Interlocking mechanism for voting-machines.



C. H. OGUMPAUGH.

INTEBLOGKING mnommsm FOR VOTING mcnmzs.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1904. RENEWED APR. 15, 1913- Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR. VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN, 12, 1904. RENEWED APB..15, 1913.

1 ,080, 1 57-, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR VOTING-MACHINES.

Application filed January 12, 1904, Serial No. 188,681.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Crrannns H. OCUM- PAUGH, a resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking Mechanism for Voting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to the interlocking mechanism of voting and other analogous machines and has for its object to provide simple and eflicient interlocking devices.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a plan of the face plate of a voting machine broken away to show interlocking devices. Fig. 2 is a broken right end elevation, the proximate end of the case being removed and the lengthwise bars of the machine shown in section; Fig. 3 is a partial bottom plan of the ballsupporting frame, the interlocking bars being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a partial plan showing a modified form of abutment bar; F ig. 5 is an elevation partly in section showing in normal situation an irregular voting device together with the interlocking mechanism, resetting rod, ballot retaining frame, and ballot receptacle; Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation of a push bar and an interlocking bar.

Z indicates the case of a voting machine.

A indicates keys or vote indicators and B push bars operatively connected to registers E which latter being of usual construction are not particularly described herein.

D indicates a bar fixed to an arm C of a push bar B. It has a wedge D adapted to be pushed between balls or equivalent parts L suitably supported in a channel in a frame, said channel being continuous except as herein after described. The frame comprises parallel sections F joined by curved sections F. Each of the parallel sections is situated adjacent the push bars B having push buttons or keys A corresponding to an oftice. In the present instance the mecha nism is so arranged that the push bars operate in vertical lines and the keys are over the sections. The irregular voting keys are each connected to a cover for an irregular vote receptacle X, a handle A and rotating cover 13 being shown in the present in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913. Renewed April 15, 1913. Serial No. 761,358.

stance. A wedge-carrying interlocking bar D cooperates with the balls L in one of the sections F for interlocking the irregular votmg mechanism with regular voting mechanism.

At or about the point of joining a section F and sections F, there is a removable grouping or abutment bar, or stop B (Figs. 1 and 3) which extends across two adjacent sections F where they join the opposite ends of a curved section F, and which is held in place at its ends by a removable pin B. This bar B is so placed that it acts as a stop or abutment to prevent the selection of more than one candidate for the same ofiice in the frame section F that it cooperates with, except in cases where the bar B is removed at the opposite end of the frame section. The curved section F as stated and shown has the same movable interlocking parts L as do the sections F and so arranged that on the removal of the grouping stop B the movable parts L contained in the sections F and F of the frame become practically one continuous interlocking mecha' nism, so that it will permit of multi-candidate or group voting, that is, one candidate can be selected for the same ofiice in each of the two rows of buttons A corresponding with the two parallel sections F, or two can didates may be selected by the voter in the same row in preference to one in each row.

One advantage of having the stops or abutments B normally situated at or near the junction of both straight parts F and the curved part F of the frame is that when either key (regular or irregular) is operated the movable balls or parts in the straight parts F only have to be crowded along to receive the actuated interlocking wedge; hence the friction or resistance to operation is less than it would be were the balls in the straight and curved parts normally in communication so as to be all moved by actuation of an interlocking bar.

When the stop or abutment devices are plain bars, as shown in Fig. 3, the first in terlocking bar bears (or may bear) against one edge of such stop 13 being thereby limited in the direction of the curved section. WVhen the stop is of link form, as shown in Fig. 4:, the first interlock bar in each straight section will pass through the opening of the link at that point and will thereby be more securely retained in place in the machine.

In case there are more than two candidates for the same office nominated by each party, and one or more of the candidates has been nominated by one political party and indorsed by another to prevent cumulative voting for this candidate, I provide a simple interlocking mechanism with but tons A which are shown in Fig. 2 in normal position.

F (Fig. 2) is a cord or similar article which is connected at D with each of the bars B of any candidate who has been nominated by one party and indorsed by another party for the same office. This cord F is carried over a rod or similar device F (Fig. 2) which acts as a bearing for the cord. The rod F in this case extends the length of the machine in the same direction as do the buttons representing the candidates of any one party. If either button is actuated, the other is locked against action. If, however, it is desired to change the actuated button, it can be withdrawn and the other button actuated, or if preferred the desired button may be actuated but this resets the button first actuated, the length of the interlocking cord F being such that it will permit of but one button, either A or A to be left in place to bring its corresponding register in position to be actuated when the voter is through making his selection.

T he arrangement of the parallel ball-holding sect-ions F and the connecting sections F illustrated in the present instance is such. that any plane passing transversely through two balls in the curved section has an included angle greater than a right angle with a plane passing through the balls in one of the parallel sections, and balls moved from one of the parallel sections toward another are never obliged to turn a right angle or an angle less than a right angle.

IV is a section of the face plate of the machine through which the several covers for receptacles X for irregular votes project slightly and M is a bar support for the said receptacles. M indicates stops on bar M to limit the closing movement of the covers.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a voting machine, an interlocking mechanism having two stationary adjacent sections in approximately parallel planes, a curved section, one end of each of said parallel sections being connected with the other section by the curved section and all the sections adapted to communicate, said mechanism including movable parts in each section, two adjacent keys each corresponding to one of the parallel sections, and abutments between both parallel sections and the connecting curved section comprising a removable bar extending across both said adjacent sections.

2. In a voting machine the combination of a frame for an interlocking mechanism comprising a plurality of straight sections and curved connecting sections, the straight sections being connected alternately at opposite ends by said curved sections, movable interlocking members carried by said frame in both straight and curved sections, indicators, and removable abutments between the straight and connecting curved sections, the abutments comprising bars of link form crossing a plurality of sections, and indicator-controlled interlocking bars passing through the links into cooperative relation with the said movable members.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

C HARLE S HERBERT O CUMPAUG Il.

iVitnesses BENJ. It. GATLIN, DAVID IV. GroULo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

